In Senior National Badminton Championship, PV Sindhu to face Saina Nehwal while Sourabh Verma to take on Lakshya Sen in Singles finals.

[]<><><>[]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the nation that the supreme sacrifice of security forces will not go in vain. He said, the perpetrators of Pulwama terror attack will be punished for their deeds. The Prime Minister was addressing a public rally at Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.

40 personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) lost their lives in a suicide terror attack that took place at Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday.

Earlier, addressing a gathering in New Delhi this morning, the Prime Minister warned Pakistan that terrorist attacks such as the one on CRPF soldiers in Pulwama will not weaken India and those responsible will have to pay a very heavy price.

Mr. Modi said, the Defence forces have been given complete freedom to crack down on terrorism. He thanked all the countries that have condemned the dastardly attack and urged them to come together to crush terrorism.

The Prime Minister also asked the parties to refrain from any kind of political mudslinging in this sensitive and emotional matter.

Mr Modi paid tributes to the CRPF jawans who lost their lives in the attack. Terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed responsibility for the attack.

[]<><><>[]

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the Unified Headquarters Meeting at Regional Training Centre in Budgam district of Kashmir this afternoon. Mr Singh was in Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of the situation in the wake of Pulwama terror attack.

During the meeting, all security related issues were discussed. Governor Satya Pal Malik, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and heads of all security and intelligence agencies were present during the meeting.

Earlier in the day, the Home Minister attended the wreath laying ceremony for the martyred CRPF personnel.

He also visited 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar, to enquire about the well being of CRPF personnel injured in the attack.

[]<><><>[]

A curfew has been imposed in Jammu city and its outskirts today as a precautionary measure following massive protests across the region over the Pulwama attack. Officials said, Army has been requested to help the administration in maintaining law and order and conduct flag march. Our correspondent reports the situation is tense but under control.

[]<><><>[]

Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs of Pulwama attack at Palam Airport in New Delhi today. The mortal remains of CRPF personnel were brought to New Delhi from Jammu and Kashmir this evening. Home Minister Rajnath Singh received the mortal remains of the martyrs.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale today summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood and issued a very strong demarche in connection with the Pulwama terror attack. Sources said, Mr. Gokhale summoned him at his office in New Delhi and conveyed that Pakistan must take immediate and verifiable action against the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad.

In view of the attack, India also called its High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria to New Delhi. Sources said, Mr Bisaria has been called for consultations.

[]<><><>[]

Ministry of External Affairs will continue to take all steps to expose the complicity of Pakistan in the Pulwama terror attack and demand immediate and verifiable action against Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader Masood Azhar. As part of the diplomatic efforts, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale met around 25 Heads of Missions based in New Delhi this evening.

He met Heads of Mission from all five permanent members of United Nations Security Council - P-5 countries, all South Asian countries and other important partners like Japan, Germany, South Korea and others. Sources in the Ministry said, all the Heads of Missions were left in no doubt about the role played by Pakistan based and supported Jaish e Mohammed terrorist organisation in the attack.

[]<><><>[]

Following the terror strike in Pulwama, India has withdrawn the Most Favoured Nation status granted to Pakistan. The decision in this regardwas taken during the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Union Minister Arun Jaitley said, it has also been decided that Ministry of External Affairs will initiate all possible diplomatic steps to ensure the complete isolation of Pakistan from the international community.

"It has requested the Ministry of External Affairs to take all possible diplomatic measures in order to ensure that there is a complete isolation of Pakistan from the international community for having actively participated and encourage this act of terrorism. There inconvertible evidence of the Pakistan hand in this grusim incident. It also decided that the most favoured nation status given by India to Pakistan for the purpose of trade, will stand withdrawn."

[]<><><>[]

Political leaders cutting across party lines have said, they fully support the government and country's security forces in wake of the dastardly attack.

[]<><><>[]

Several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Bihar where legislative assemblies are in session, paid tributes to the martyrs who lost their lives in yesterday's terror attack.

Condolences are also pouring in from across the globe. with nations like the United States, UK, Russia, France and China condemning the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in strong words.

Strongly condemning the attack, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

[]<><><>[]

The News Services Division of All India Radio will broadcast a special 45 minute discussion tonight on the "Dastardly attack in Pulwama"

The programme can be heard on FM Gold and Rajdhani Channels from 9.15 pm. It will also be available on our website www.newsonair.com

[]<><><>[]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched various development projects worth over twenty thousand crore rupees at Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh this afternoon. Mr Modi laid the foundation stone of the Defence Corridor. Jhansi is one of the six nodal points of the UP defence corridor. He also laid the foundation stones of two drinking water projects.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said, the defence corridor from Jhansi to Agra will strengthen the defence production in the country and stop migration. He said, the Centre and the state government are doing everything for the development of Bundelkhand region.

The Prime Minister flagged off the Vande Bharat Express train from New Delhi Railway station this morning. The express is the country's first semi high speed train.

[]<><><>[]

Former President Pranab Mukherjee released the book containing selected speeches of Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu at a function in New Delhi today. The book is a compilation of 92 speeches of Mr Naidu. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mukherjee said, the speeches reflect the wide experience of Mr Naidu in public affairs.

[]<><><>[]

At Senior National Badminton Championship in Guwahati, PV Sindhu will face Saina Nehwal while Sourabh Verma will take on Lakshya Sen in Singles finals.